Trade fair report with new products from IWA 2025: Day 4 - with the trade fair summary and new products from Pulsar, Hornady, Savage, Fausti, Nobel Sport, Mercury and Maniago Knife Makers

Around 30,000 trade visitors from 126 countries used the IWA OutdoorClassics 2025, which spanned from 27 February to 2 March this year, to obtain information from 1084 exhibitors, conclude new business deals, form partnerships or simply maintain existing contacts. Georg Loichinger, the PR manager of the trade fair, emphasises that in the video linked above. Loichinger is also pleased that on the last day of IWA 2025 there were already more re-confirmed bookings for 2026 than on the last day of the trade fair in 2024. For anyone who wants to save the date for next year: IWA OutdoorClassics 2026 will take place again in Nuremberg, Germany, from 26 February to 1 March 2026. In the video, Loichinger gives a brief preview of the coming year.

IWA 2025: new GLOCK COA semi-automatic pistol series

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The new GLOCK COA semi-automatic pistol series.

Officially unveiled GLOCK's COA series of semi-automatic pistols, made in collaboration with Aimpoint to offer an A-Cut milling of the slide, complete with factory-installed and zeroed, red dot enclosed sights. For now, five Gen5 pistols in 9mm caliber are available in the COA configuration. In the video we examine the sub-compact Glock 43X model. For more information: https://eu.glock.com/en

IWA 2025: Pulsar introduces Oryx LRF XG35 thermal monocular

During our double appointment at IWA OutdoorClassics 2025 with Christin Geuting, Market Manager at Pulsar, we were able to inspect a new thermal imaging monocular as well as the new, updated interaction of the Pulsar Merger LRF XT50 with the Stream Vision ballistics app. Firstly, Christin shows us the new Pulsar Oryx LRF XG35 thermal imaging device, which is positioned between the extra-compact Axion models and the larger Telos devices in response to many customer requests. The Pulsar Oryx LRF XG35 scores with its integrated laser rangefinder and the high-resolution 640×480 pixel XG sensor, paired with a 35-mm lens. The finger focus system, which enables one-handed operation for left and right-handers, and up to 12 hours of run time thanks to the dual battery system, make it particularly user-friendly. The Pulsar Oryx LRF XG35 is expected to be available from April/May 2025 at a price of around €2,390. You can find out more details in our video interviews from the trade fair stand and on the Pulsar website.

IWA 2025: Hornady presents new Aeromatch bullet line for sport shooters

Hornady presented the brand new Aeromatch bullet line at IWA OutdoorClassics 2025 in Nuremberg. Hornady relies on proven bullet profiles that have been specially optimised for maximum accuracy in sports and competition shooting. The special feature of the Hornady Aeromatch series is its sequential production: batches of 500 projectiles are made in continuous production processes, numbered consecutively in packs of 3,000 – a decisive advantage for consistent shooting performance. The Aeromatch bullets are available in six variants: .224 Remington (69 and 77 grains), .243 Winchester (105 grains), .264/6.5 Creedmoor (140 grains) and .308 Winchester (168 and 175 grains). These Hornady precision bullets are suitable for ranges from 100 to 600 metres. You can find out more details about the new Hornady Aeromatch line and its pricing in our detailed video interview from the trade fair stand and directly from Hornady.

IWA 2025: A new addition to the Savage Axis 2 Pro family of affordable bolt-action rifles

US manufacturer Savage Arms established its own class of firearms years ago with the Axis bolt-action rifles, with high-quality technology but at tightly calculated prices. The successors Savage Axis 2 and Axis 2 Pro are much more than updates if you add up all the improved features. The similarities between the models: button rifled barrels for high accuracy, with 15-mm diamete and 19-mm on the higher end and brand new Axis 2 Pro versions. These also come with a one-piece mounting rail, while the Axis 2 has two-piece mounting bases. All Axis rifles have the precise Accutrigger and, despite their great features (e.g. Cerakote coating on the Pro models), all have a recommended retail price of less than 800 euros.

IWA 2025: Fausti Dea Upland SLX side-by-side

Not only new products at IWA, but also great classics, such as the Fausti Dea Upland SLX side-by-side, a traditional and elegant shotgun that the hunter can configure according to his or her own aesthetic tastes and personal technical needs. Available in all gauges from 12-gauge to the smallest .410 bore and made with scaled-to-gauge steel receivers, the Dea Upland SLX double-barreled shotgun is one of the most representative models in the Fausti Boutique range. Distinctive of this range is the possibility of having customized features, such as the stock length tailored to the hunter, selective single or double trigger at the hunter's choice, thin English or beavertail forend, different barrel lengths ranging from 63.5 to 76 cm to allow the hunter to adapt ballistic performance to different types of hunting and environments. Barrel chambers can be 70-mm or 76-mm (magnum). Wood used is always oil-finished, select European walnut. During IWA 2025 we had the opportunity to see a 20-gauge example of this double-barreled shotgun on display and beyond the aesthetic attention to detail and engravings, we were able to note the good balance and low weight of the shotgun, which varies depending on the barrels and the gauge, but is around 2.8 kg in the smaller gauges and reaches a maximum of 3 kg in the 12-ga version. The Dea Upland SLX makes use of modified Anson locks, but the presence of false sideplates gives the master engravers the space they need for the engravings, which can be chosen by the hunter and in this case include wild birds in flight and floral motifs. For these customized guns, the hunter can go to the company and decide every detail with the Fausti staff, receiving his or her gun after the necessary lead time, with a certified target.

IWA 2025: Mercury Knives

Our colleague Tommaso Rumici presents the knife he designed for Mercury together with Denis Simonutti, another famous international designer. It is a small fixed blade in M390 steel, available with scales in various materials and accompanied by a leather sheath with carrying clip.

IWA 2025: Maniago Knife Makers Mercury Hawky Knife

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Maniago Knife Makers Mercury Hawky Knife.

At the Maniago Knife Makers booth, the new ICE was on display: a small folding knife for everyday carry, with liner-lock and a Magnacut steel blade. It is available in six colors.

IWA 2025: all new products from Nobel Sport

Focus by Nobel Sport in Nuremberg on alternative alloys to lead in hunting ammunition. Upland Hunting: two materials dominate, bismuth and steel. For bismuth, as already announced at EOS we see a range expansion for small gauges, from 20 up to 28-ga and the always popular .410 bore (36 Magnum). The Super Fine Bismuth ammo line, designed for the most demanding hunts and prey, has also been completed now.
Among steel-loaded cartridges, the very complete Waterfowl line stands out, besides the classic Game Steel usable in any type of gun, up to HP cartridges strictly for steel proofed shotguns. In lead ammunition, the focus is again on the Extreme Range line in 12- and 20-gauges, which thanks to the clever yet powerful loadings and the special spherical polyurethane buffer loaded along with the lead pellets guarantee safe shots at extreme range with record speed and full effectiveness. In short, “hot stuff” for hunters who like (or have to) shoot at long ranges.
More and more “hot” and complete, also the historic – or rather, legendary – Collezione Nobel Sport series in 12- and 20-gauges, with cartridges specially designed for each species and hunting types, always keeping in mind the needs of the most technical hunters. For shooting, we have the introduction to the market of the excellent 206 Competition: a truly special cartridge for Olympic-level champions (but available to everyone) characterized by T.4 hulls, targeted loads, and special 5% antimony, copper plated lead shot. For more information: https://www.nobelsportitalia.com/